New Faculty Member Q&A: Anne Klein
Anne Klein, an assistant professor of practice in the Department of Art and Art History is a printmaker whose prints combine the aesthetics of accumulation and biting humor to explore consumer culture and class politics in the “post-truth era.” Klein’s work harnesses the reproducible nature of printmaking to visually depict information entropy in infinite replication. She was recently the National Endowment for the Humanities’ Visiting Assistant Professor of Art at Colgate University. Klein holds an M.F.A. in printmaking from the University of Iowa and a B.F.A. from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, with a focus in printmaking and fiber material studies.
Tell us about the classes you’ll be teaching this year.
This fall I will be teaching two sections of Intro to Printmaking where we will learn about processes including linocut relief printing, copper plate etching, lithography and screen printing. I am also teaching an intermediate section of intaglio where we will explore traditional and experimental etching techniques.
What attracted you to the Department of Arts and Art History and The University of Texas at Austin?
The incredible studios, resources and sense of community within the Department really drew me in. I am particularly excited to work with students in the Riso Room, our student-run Risograph research lab.
How did your professional pathway lead to your current research focus?
Prints are fundamentally tied to communication, not only in their form but in their making as artists work within a printshop community. As an undergrad, I was drawn to the communal nature of this practice and never left. Much of my professional practice has been informed by many hours spent in the company of other artists in the studio. Today, my research is largely informed by a printmaking ethos as I focus on the role repeatable images play in shaping the way we understand the past, imagine the future and relate to one another.
What’s something that students and colleagues should know about you?
Something I really enjoy about a print-based practice is how much of a puzzle it can be to solve. If you have an idea you'd like to see realized, I am always open to collaboration.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not teaching or working in the print lab?
When I'm not teaching or making art, I enjoy going to see live music, growing food in my garden and traveling with friends (especially if prints are involved).